Our spy photographers have sent us the 2021 Nissan Navara prototype. Here’s some info detailing the updated bakkie.
Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien. We have paid for these photos and at the photographer’s request, have watermarked them.
Given the South African market’s love for bakkies, Nissan will need to pull out all the stops to make its offering competitive. With the Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max and Toyota Hilux snapping up most of the sales, there’s not much market share leftover once the likes of the Volkswagen Amarok and Mitsubishi Triton have hoovered up the scraps. The market will be changing radically in 2021, with an all-new Isuzu D-Max being built in SA, an updated Hilux, all-new Mazda BT-50 as well as the eagerly anticipated GWM P Series.
The updated Nissan Navara is said to offer higher-quality finishes, more comfort and more connectivity options. Our photographers also managed to get a snap of the cabin, showing a new infotainment setup. We can see a large infotainment screen, as well as controls for climate control and heated seats. As it stands, the current Navara features a smallish infotainment screen and doesn’t look as premium as the spy shot cabin below, so the upgrades will be welcome.
It’s unclear what engines will be on offer, but we suspect revised versions of the current 2.3-litre turbocharged diesel motor. Expect 4×2 and 4×4 models when the model is revealed in 2021, if not sooner.
In May 2020, Nissan announced it has invested around R3 billion in upgrading the Rosslyn plant to build the ‘new’ Navara (it has been on sale since 2014 globally). The upgrade is likely to come online in late 2020 or early 2021 and produce up to 30 000 Navaras a year. This investment is good news as it should add around 400 new jobs to the Nissan payroll, as well as 800 jobs in the larger value chain.
Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien.
Further Reading
Navara to get X-Class Upgrades
More Nissan Navara production could be heading to SA
Original Story by www.cars.co.za
